River stayed in the water at the deeper end, unsure what to expect. It was as if her relationship with Dad was ruined when she tried to fix the treaty; their close relationship from before seemed to be tainted. She didn’t know what had changed, but he seemed to be angry with her all the time. Every time she saw him, it somehow became a fight.
Dad took off his shoes and socks, then pulled off his shirt and emptied his pockets before he sank into the deep water with her. But he was still standing on his feet, while she had to move her fin to stay afloat, though she was at the deeper end where she and Lachlan had been before. She hadn’t expected him to get into the water with her.
“I have to apologize to you, Minnow. It seems I’ve done nothing right by you. I never knew you were being bulli
